On-farm Evaluation of Female Calf Production Through Assisted Reproduction in Improving Smallholder Dairying in Mirab Azerinet Woreda, South Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

In dairy industries production of a heifer for herd replacement and to increase income is a key component. This study was planned to compare artificial insemination (AI) efficiency by using sexed (sex-sorted) semen and conventional semen types and to develop ideas in the production scheme of replacement female calves. Data had been gathered from January 2018 up to December 2019 on 846 inseminations in non-pregnant indigenous cows and heifers. There becomes a significantly different (P<0.05) conception rate between sexed and conventional semen which was 48.22% and 77.78% correspondingly. Using sexed semen 76.96% of cows gave birth to female calves while the female calves were 33.43% from conventional semen. There was a lower risk of calving difficulty (dystocia) in sexed semen (23.52%) than in conventional semen (47.72%). Using sexed semen can improve the dairy sector by producing female calves required by the majority of smallholder farmers. In the current situation of the study area the expensiveness and inaccessibility of sexed semen result reduction in income. Even though lower conception rate but a lower risk of calving problems (dystocia) and higher production of female calves; sexed (sex-sorted) semen could be suggested for insemination of indigenous cows and heifers to increase the number of cross-bred cows and boost the dairy sectors in general. The concerned authorities should work together to increase the supply of sexed semen and intervene to get smallholders by reasonable price.